March 19, 2016

Apple's Replacement for the Unapologetically Plastic iPhone Debuts on Monday with a Proven Sexier Design

When the iPhone 5c was introduced in 2013, Apple's Chief Industrial Designer stated in a promotional video that the iPhone 5c was beautifully unapologetically plastic. Although the iPhone 5c was the number one smartphone in the UK in August 2014, in general it was a bomb for Apple. It appears that most didn't agree with Ive's unapologetic view and rejected the plastic entry iPhone. Apple has now reinventing their entry level iPhone by simply reengineering their older sexier iPhone 5s model with specifications that will be appreciated by anyone who still longs for the smaller, one-handed controlled, 4" display.

Apple's new iPhone SE debuting on Monday will cater to about 20% of the market who still prefer a 4" display, according to a Piper Jaffrey survey; a market that could deliver 10 to 15 million iPhones this year depending on how Apple prices the unit.

The Wall Street Journal adds that "The revamped phone comes as Apple grapples with slowing growth of its flagship product, which accounts for two-thirds of its revenue. In Apple's fiscal first quarter ended December, iPhone sales rose 0.4%—its slowest rate of growth since Apple introduced the phone in 2007. Analysts forecast sales to fall for the first time in the current quarter." So the new iPhone could provide Apple with a needed boost to iron out sales until the iPhone 7 arrives in September.

The new iPhone will offer an improved camera, Touch ID with Apple Pay that's fully supported by Apple's iOS end-to-end encryption to safeguard all financial transactions.

Apple will also be giving their iPad line-up a new boost on Tuesday with a redesign that will follow that of the iPad Pro with connectivity supporting a keyboard cover and a display that will accommodate the new Apple Pencil; the Best Digital 'Pencil' on the Market Today with virtually no lag.

Of course Apple purposely timed the event to be one day before the FBI-Apple hearing begins on Tuesday, and while it would be nice to not hear about the politics du jour at a product event, more than likely Apple will address their case in some form or way to the millions that will be tuning into the live event. Whether it will be in the form of a short statement or in a carefully crafted video presentation is unknown at this time.

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